Fluid well valve



T. E.v BRYAN FLUID WELL VALVE Filed April 26, 1932 Sept. 19, 1933.

2 Sheets-Sheet l T y 5.7 m ,1. v n fl W E Q E s m m a g n m k W 4a Y J 1m W r J1 Sept. 19, 1933. T. E. BRYAN 1,927,081

FLUID WELL VALVE Filed April 26, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invenlor waai ihflllorney Patented Sept. 19, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Thisinvention relates to improved fluid well valves in the nature of anautomatically operable fluid controlled balanced valve for use in fluidwells of the gas, oil and water variety.

The purpose of the invention is to provide an automatic valve structurewhich is an improvement on the typeof valve illustrated and claimed inPatent 1,840,694 granted to me under date of January 12, 1932.

As pointed out in the description. of the aforesaid patent it is commonpractice in well constructionto provide surface or external means forinjecting gas, air, or fluid under pressure into the well tubing tostart the flow of fluid from said well. and thereafter to serve atdesired intervals, to stimulate continuous flow of the well fluid whenthe same fails to develop sufiicient natural nurture or force to flow ofits own'accord. V

In the specific embodiments of valves herein illustrated the principalimprovement resides in the construction of the valve body containing two.valves operating as a unit of an automatically operable balanced valve,which unit is supported in the tubing. and which unit is constructed so2 that so long as the balanced valve is closed the fluid emanating fromthe well has developed suflicient force to flow under its own power,said balanced valve serving also to permit outside pressure to enter thewell automatically and at requisite intervals when the well fluid failsto flow underfits own natural pressure.

Broadly stated an essential distinction between theval ve hereindescribed and claimed and that set forth in the previous patent is thatthe improved valve is such in construction as to provide for a flow offluid through the casing as well as through the tubing, together with avelocity control in the automatic balanced valves when flowing throughthe casing. Y

Many other more specific and structural features of the invention willbe pointed out at the concluding portion of the description.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals are employed todesignate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the casing and tubingshowing two of the automatic valves installed at vertically spacedpoints.

Figure 2 is an enlarged close up sectional and elevational viewdisclosing the construction of the improved valve as it is supported inthe tubing;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on' the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the 5 valve seat equippedbody of the valve.

Figure 5 isa horizontal section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the gravity opened pressure closed duplexvalve unit per se.

Figure 7 is a detail view of a valve adjusting bushing.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view of a modified type of check valveequipped ,valve body supporting member.

Figure 9 is a cross section on the line 9-9 of Figure 8. Referring nowto the drawings by detail reference characters it will be observed inFigure 1 the casing is distinguished by' the numeral 10 a tubing by thenumeral 11. The valves are generally denoted by the numeral 12 and eachvalve is the same in construction and the description of one willsufiice for both.

Referring now to Figure 2 it will be seen that the valve body comprisesan open ended tube 13 of appropriate length having a sleeve 14 fitted inthe upper end and a similar sleeve 15 fitted in the intermediate portionsuitably secured in place. These sleeves constitute valve seats. Thelower end of the tubular body is internally screw threaded as indicatedat 16 to accommodate the screw threaded valve adjusting bushing 30. The

bushing serves to regulate the sensitivity of operation of thevalveunit. The valve unit comprises an elongated rod 1'! having upperand lower valve members 18 and 19 (19 being a reverse seating valve;which seats against the adjusting bushing 30 when in the adjustingposition, thus eliminating the flow of gas downward through bushing 30,countercurrent to the flow of the fluid up the tubing,, the result beinga triple-seated valve) with the respective seats 14 and 15. The lowerend of the rod extends down through the bushing where it is screwthreaded as at 20 to accommodate the pressure operated head 21.

Tapped into the diametrically opposite screw threaded holes 22 and 23 ofthe valve body are the supporting members 24 attached to a wall of thetubing 11 as seen in Figure 2. These members are of tubular form toserve as fluid intakes or out-lets for conducting the gas into or fromthe space between the casing and tubing into. and through the improvedvalve. Adjacent the bushing and adjacent the lower end of the valvecaging I provide additional fluid passages or ports 25, 5 which serve asgas in-lets or :out-lets in and through the improved valve. K

Directing attention to Figure 8 it will be observed that it is desirableunder certainconditions to provide eitherone or both of the tubular 11osupporting members 24 with a pressure controlled supplemental checkvalve assembly which comprises longitudinally spaced stops 26 and 27 forthe slidable valve disk 28. The disk is provided with circumferentiallyspaced notches 29 which defines gas orifices or ports.

It will be noted that the bore in the stop 27 is such that when the diskis pressed against said part 27 the valve is closed while when the diskis against the ring stop 26 the valve is open. In other words the depthsof the notches 29 is such that when the disk bears against the ring 26said notches form restricted passages for the gas under pressure.

By comparing the structure herein illustrated with that depicted inPatent 1,840,694 previously mentioned the following structuraldifferences and advantages will be noted. The end-caps have .beendispensed with and in their place the upper valve seat acts as the valvestem guide and the lower cap has been replaced with an adjustablebushing, but inserted and threaded on the inside, instead of theoutside. This bushing is of major importance as an adjustable setting onthe valve, whereby the valve can be set to close ofi when flowing fluidup the casing at any desired pressure, ranging from .ten pounds to sixhundred.

Also, in the old valve the end-cap served the purpose of attachment tothe tubing walls, for

suspending the valves. This attachment is not needed and, therefore,only the eighth-inch nipples that serve as inlet and outlet ports on thevalve, both in the original and in the present one, act as thesupporting members.

Moreover, although the valve body and stem are essentially the same, theoriginal body was I separable, but is now made in one piece, and theseats, instead of cast as a part of the original body, are now pressedin, however, in their same relative positions and for the same purposeand same method of operation. Instead of using a flat valve, we are nowusing what is known as a parabolic, or pear shaped, valve, and patentshould cover the use of both types, inasmuch as their operation isidentical.

The improved valve is capable of flowing a well either water, oil' ormixture of them, up either string of pipe the casing or the tubing.

The valve has the ability, when admitting gas down the tubing throughthe valve openings in the valve and out through the nipples into thecasing string to automatically close off by the velocity of the gasthrough the valve ports, but

actually controlled 'by the reduction of pressure of the fluid in thecasing exerted on the valve when lifted by the admission of gas, whichlessenstring equals the gas pressure in the tubing, when the valveautomatically reopens and thereby acts as a self-intermitter as well asa positive shut-off, kick-off valve. Other valves may have the abilityto close off by velocity control although built of diilerent character.Our specific claim here is to the ability of the valve without the useof springs, diaphragms, or other mechanics to both close off and toreopen by the weight of the fluid acting as an interr'nitter. The claimto the ability of the valve to control the volume of gas passing throughthe valve before it shuts off by the regulation of the adjustingbushing, or nut, at the bottom of the valve is decidedly an original andexclusive feature.

An additional point which was not made in the original application, isthat the bushing 17 at the bottom of the valve body 30, which replacesthe old end-cap, is adjustable to the extent that when tightened upwardto its greatest extent it will' automatically close the valve with anextremely 4 low pressure and velocity, sometimes as little pressure as'ten pounds. On the other hand, when loosened or unscrewed towards thebottom, the valve will stay open and resist closing, even under anextremely high pressure and velocity, to an extent of a maximum of sixhundred pounds. Any range of pressure from ten to six hundred pounds canbe had by the adjustment of this bushing between these. two upper andlower limits, the pressure referred to herein in the inlet pressure, orpressure applied tothe tubing. The result of this adjustment is thateach valve in a series of valves installed in the tubing can thus becontrolled by the operator, by. the proper regulation of the inletpressure.

An additional exclusive feature claimed is that after any or all valveshave been "closed (subsevalves will automatically close until thepressure and velocity are reduced to the point of equalization, asdesignated by the setting of the valves.

The gist of the invention, it will be observed is the provision of asimplified valve supported in the tubing by diametrically oppositetubular nipples 24 which have the additional function of admitting thefluid under pressure whereby the valve is equally successful in flowingboth through the casing and the tubing. Then too the arrangement whereinthe plain nipples 24 of Figure 2 are removed and supplanted by thevalved nipples shown in Figure 8 is an added point of distinctivenessand novelty. All told, it is believed that the valve is an appreciablecontribution to the art and industry in which it is 13( capable ofeflicient usage.

It is evident that when injecting gas or air under pressure from thesurface down through the tubing 11, the air or gas simultaneously entersthe upper end of the valve casing when the valves 18 and 19 are unseatedand further enters the ports 25, discharging radially or outwardlythrough the supporting nipples 24 into the space between the tubing andcasing. By the same token, when the gas is'introduced between the casingand tubing it passes through the valve by way of the supporting nipples24. Moreover when the fluid in the well establishes sufficient velocityto flow steadily, the reaction of the fluid flow against the head 21forcing valve stem 17 upward simultaneously seating and closing both ofthe valves 18 and 19 and inversely, whenever the velocity of flow fallsbelow a speed necessary to maintain a steady flow or to produceuniformly, valves 18 and. 19 automatically drop down to ing around thelower end of the valve stem through bushing 30. The higher the pressureexisting in the tubing, the greater will be the velocity of the gasgoing into the valve at the above mentioned points, and dischargingthrough ports 23 and 22 into the casing, or outer pipe 10. Whensufiicient velocity is attained the valve stem will raise towards itsclosed position.

Due to the velocity and as soon as lower valve is' partially lifted ofiof the top of bushing 30, it alsoacts as a lower seat for bottom oflower valve, the inrush of gas through the bushing 30 striking uponlower side of valve 19 drives this valve to its upper or closedposition. The adjustment of the bushing 30 in or out of the valve bodybringing the valve 19 closer or-farther away, as

the case may be, from valve seat 15, any pressure desired can be made toclose the valve.

In explanation of this action, so long as fluid existing in the outerpipe exerting a weight downwardly through valve port 23 and into thevalve stem proper, velocity at nominal pressures will remain too low forthe valve to close, but as soon as the fluid in the outer pipe is blownout of the hole, this downward pressure is relieved, no fluid being leftin the pipe and the loss of this weight automatically increases thevelocity of the gas from the valve into the outer pipe, which as statedbefore, causes the valve to be both pulled by a vacuum and pushed upwardby the increased velocity of the gas through the port around the stem inbushing 30.

It is thought that the description taken in .connection with thedrawings will enable a clear, understanding of the invention to be had.Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within thefield of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. An automatic fluid well valve of the class described comprising anopen ended tubular body provided with valve seats, means for supportingsaid body in the well tubing, a valve unit comprising a longitudinallyreciprocable rod extending through the opposite ends of said body andprovided with valve elements cooperable with said seats, said rod beingprovided on its lower end with a head against which the well fluid actsin simultaneously closing said valve elements, and valve adjusting meansmounted in the lower end portion of the valve body cooperable with therod for regulating the sensitivity of operation of the valve elements. I

2. An automatic fluid well valve of the class described comprising atubular body provided with internal valve seats, said body beinginternally screw threaded at its lower end. and provided above said endwith fluid ports, a valve adjusting bushing threaded into said lower endof the body, sleeves fitted into the intermediate and upper end checkvalve.

portion of the body and constituting valve seats, a rod slidable throughthe bushing and sleeves and provided with valve elements cooperable withsaid sleeves, a pressure head secured to the lower protruding end of therod, and supporting members for suspending the valve body in the welltubing.

3. An automaticfluid well valve of the class described comprising atubular body provided with internal valve seats, said body beinginternally screw threaded at its lower end and provided above said endwith fluid ports, a valve adjusting bushing threaded into said lower endof the body, sleeves fitted into the intermediate and upper end portionof the body and constituting valve seats, a rod slidable through thebushing and sleeves and provided with valve elements cooperable withsaid sleeves, a pressure head secured to the lower protruding end of therod, and supporting members for suspending the valve body in the welltubing, supporting members being. in the form of tubular nipplesafiording communication between the valve body and the space between thetubing and surrounding casing whereby to permit gas or air underpressure to be passed through the valve either by way of the tubing, orby way of the space between the tubing and casing.

4. An automatic valve of the class described comprising an open endedtubular body internally screw threaded at its lower end-and providedadjacent said screw threaded end with circumferentially spaced gasports, said valve body being provided intermediate its ends withdiametrically opposite screw threaded holes, tubular supporting membersthreaded into said hole at their inner ends, and connected at theirouter ends to the well tubing, a valve adjusting bushing threaded intothe lower end of said body, sleeves fitted into the upper andintermediate portions of the bodyand constituting valve seats, a rodslidable through the bushing and sleeves and'provided with valveelements cooperable with said seats, apressure head on the lower end ofthe rod, one or more of said nipples being provided wth a 5. Anautomatic fluid well valve comprising a hollow valve casing, at leastone supporting mem-. ber mounted on the valve casing constituting apassage from the interior of. the valve casing, a

check valve mounted in at least one of the supporting members forcontrolling the passage, said valve casing formed with communicationmeans establishing an additional passage from the interior of thecasing, a pair of valve seats mounted in the additional passage of thevalve casing one to each side of the first mentioned passage, 9.gravitating valve rod mounted in the valve casing and carrying valveelements coacting with the valve seats for controlling both of saidpassages, a portion of the valve rod depending below the valve casing, ahead connected with the depending portion of the valve rod, and anadjustable means carried by the casing and cooperable with the valve rodto regulate thesensitivity of operation of the valve elements.

6. An automatic fluid well valve adapted to be supported incommunication with the interior of an inner well tubing comprising avalve casing having a through passage and a second passage registeringwith the through passage, at least one valve seat in the through passageon the opposite sides of the second passage, a check valve in the secondpassage, a movable valve rod in the through passage carrying valveelements coacting with the valve seats, a portion of the valve roddepending below the valve casing, a pressure head connected with thedepending portion of the valve rod; adjustable means carried by thevalve casing and cooperable with the valve rod for regulating thesensitivity of operation of the valve elements, and means connected withthe valve casing whereby the valve casing is supported in communicationwith the interior of said tubing.

7. An automatic fluid well valve comprising avalve casing having atleast one passage through the valve casing, a valve for controlling thepassage mounted in the interior of the valve casing, a portion of thevalve depending below the valve casing, a head connected with thedepending portion of the valve, and an adjustable means carried by thecasing and cooperable with the valve to regulate the sensitivity ofoperation of the valve.

8. In combination with a well characterized by an outer casing and aninner tubing-spaced from the outer casing, at least one valve casingconnected with the'inner tubing in registration with the interiorthereof, communication means establishing a passage through the valvecasing from the inner tubing to the space between the outer casing andinner tubing, a valve in the valve casing for controlling the passageand having a depending portion projecting below the valve casing, a headconnected with the depending valve portion, and means carried by thevalve casing and cooperating with the valve for regulating thesensitivity of operation of the valve.

9. In combination with a well characterized by an outer casing and aninner tubing spaced from the outer casing, at least one hollow valvecasing disposed in the inner tubing, a pair of valve seats in each ofthe hollow valve casings, communication means located between the valveseats establishing a passage from the interior of the valve casing tothe space between the outer well casing and inner tubing, a'check valvein said communication means for controlling the passage, additionalcommunication means establishing a passage from the interior of thevalve casing to the interior of the inner tubing, a valve rod mountedfor reciprocation in the valve casing and carrying valve elementscoacting with the valve seats for controlling both of the passages, aportion of the valve rod depending below the valve casing, a headcarried by the depending portion of the valve rod, and adjustable meanscarried by the lower portion of the valve casing and cooperable with thevalve rod to regulate the sensitivity of operation of the valveelements.

10. In combination with a well characterized by an outer casing and aninner tubing spaced from the outer casing, a plurality of hollow valvecasings each one of which is disposed in the inner tubing inthe path ofthe well fluid being lifted in the inner tubing, said valve casings alsodisposed in the inner tubing in vertical spaced relation to one another,a pair of valve seats in each of the valve casings, at least onesupporting member for controlling the passage, each valve casing formedwith a communication means for establishing an additional passage fromthe interior of the valve casing to theinterior of the inner tubing, apair of valve seats carried by the interior of each valve casing one toeach side of the first mentioned passage, a valve rod mounted forreciprocation in each valve casing and carrying valve elements coactingwith the valve seats for controlling both of said passages in each valvecasing, a portion of the valve rod depending below each valve casing, ahead carried by the depending portion of the valve rod against whichimpinges the well fluid being lifted for closing both passages in eachvalve casing, and adjustable means carried by the lower portion of eachvalve casing and cooperable with the valve rod to regulate thesensitivity of operation of the valve elements.

THOMAS E. BRYAN.

